How to Check the Status of Your Passport Application?

How is Your Passport Validity Important?

Many countries abroad need a passport that will be valid for at least 6 months after your planned visit. Without this, there are chances that they may not approve your visa. Thus, it is very important that you track these things and renew your passport before it expires. This can take a lot of time which may disturb your travel insurance plans which you so meticulously worked for.

Even if you have only recently applied for your passport, you can use one of these methods to check its status. These are some situations when a re-issue of the passport may be needed:

• Changes in your personal particulars
• Validity expiration (either more than 3 years ago or due to expire)
• Damages to your passport
• Loss of passport
• Exhaustion of passport pages

In such cases, you must apply for a passport under a fresh category even if you may hold an official or diplomatic passport.

Ways to Check the Status of Your Passport

To make it easier for everyone, there are many ways to apply, renew and track one’s passport. You can check your passport application status on your own in the comfort of your home or by taking other routes; as per your convenience. These are mentioned below:  

Online

With increased digital facilities, people can easily check their documents online through a lot of websites and applications readily available. In the case of Indian passport, you can visit the Passport Seva, the official government website dedicated to every passport-related service.

There is also a special application designed to be downloaded on your mobile. The mPassport Seva application can be easily installed and used by any person. This app is available on both iOS and Android phones. All you need to do is to register with it and get all the relevant updates. You can check the passport application status by following these quick steps:

• Keep the necessary information handy; you will be asked for your passport file number (a 15-digit number that you get after submitting your passport application) and your date of birth
• Select the option to track passport application status on the drop-down menu
• Provide the necessary details.
• The latest available status will be displayed on your phone's screen

Offline

In case you need to track the status of your passport application offline, you can do so using these options:

• Through Telephone: You can contact the National Call Center on their toll-free number 18002581800. The facility is available from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM during which you can speak to an executive.
• Through Automated Interactive Voice Response: There is also an option to opt for this facility if you can't contact them during their office hours.
• Through Text Message: Using your registered mobile number, send a text to the number that was provided to you in your passport application number. You will get the updates after this. However, this service is a paid one.
• By Visiting the Passport Seva Kendra: You can directly visit the center near you to check the status
• Through Email: You can also contact them through the mail and request the passport application status

Time Taken to Process Your Passport

Depending on the type of passport application, your passport processing time may vary. Normal applications usually take over 30 days with passports being issued within 30-45 days.

However, there is a faster way to get your passport under Tatkaal mode, a passport can be issued within 7 to 14 days.

In rare cases, if this time duration exceeds or you don’t see any updates, you can take necessary action if your passport was not delivered to you due to negligence. However, this will not be done if this delay was beyond the service center’s control; for example, the coronavirus pandemic caused a lot of disruption and restrictions in work hours. 

The Ministry of External Affairs has provided Indian citizens with several grievance redressal mechanisms to deal with such issues. You can do so by providing all the necessary details and lodging your grievance through call, visiting the nearest passport office, through a feedback form, email, or the Passport Seva portal.

Wrapping it up,

Before planning your trip, it's recommended that you are aware of all the passport-related requirements especially if any renewal is necessary. In case of emergencies that need speedy passport issuance or renewal, you can go for the Tatkal mode. You can then easily track your passport application status using any of the discussed methods.